{"id":371958,"date":"2016-10-06T16:00:52","date_gmt":"2016-10-06T21:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-drug-possession-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-10-24T13:49:10","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T18:49:10","slug":"colorado-drug-possession-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-drug-possession-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Drug Possession Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Colorado Drug Possession Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Colorado drug possession laws can change often. in 2022, the Colorado legislature amended the state’s Controlled Substances Act of 2013. Among the updates was legislation that reduced a number of drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado’s drug laws are some of the most progressive in the nation. They favor rehabilitation and treatment over incarceration. The Drug Enforcement Agency<\/a> (DEA) allows states to decriminalize drug possession within their borders. Certain drug offenses remain federal felonies. Most of Colorado’s laws apply to personal use and small amounts of drugs.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado’s Controlled Substance Classifications<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Colorado classifies controlled substances<\/a> using the federal government’s drug schedule. The federal schedule categorizes drugs by their medical use, likelihood of abuse, and safety. The schedule is as follows:<\/p>\r\n